We have just uploaded our new interview with Dirk Maggs, the man behind the upcoming Alien: Out of the Shadows audio dramatization. As part of 20th Century Fox’s extensive Alien Day celebrations, an audio dramatization of Titan Book’s and Tim Lebbon’s novel Alien: Out of the Shadows was announced. The man behind the project?
None other than Dirk Maggs, the man to bring to life the final installations of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio show. Over his illustrious career he worked on many notable projects with many big name actors including the likes to Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy.
“AvPGalaxy – Can you tell us a little about how the idea of doing an audio dramatization of Tim Lebbon’s novel came around?
Dirk Maggs – It’s funny because in 1996 when I did a Fox movie/BBC Radio crossover called ‘Independence Day UK’, Fox were so pleased with the result that they asked if I would be interested in making an Alien audio production in advance of the release of ‘Alien Resurrection’. I wrote a treatment which they liked very much but sadly the rights position was not resolvable so it never happened. Flash forward nearly 20 years and Audible got in touch, asking f I’d like to adapt and produce an epic audio drama based on Tim Lebbon’s book. I said yes at once.”
Dirk Maggs is also responsible for the audio adaptations of the last episodes of The Hitckhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio show and has worked alongside numerous well known actors and writers.
Dirk talks about how he became involved in the production, the role that Alien: Isolation played in its making and about the amazing cast behind Alien: Out of the Shadows.
Make sure you check out the entire interview. You can also read our previous interviews in the Interviews section. I’d like to thank Dirk once again for taking the time to answer our questions. Alien: Out of the Shadows is available to download and listen to tomorrow.
Same! My experience with audio dramas has been Big Finish's Dr Who and Stargate and through various fan-made Star Treks. Out of the Shadows was a fantastic piece of audio engineering.
No, not the same.
Haha. I'm also impressed with the production quality of this audio drama as well. I usually listen to 'Big Finish' audio and this is my first Audible audio. Not saying that I was expecting a bad job, just used to good quality audios. Alien : Out of the shadows is certain one of them.
*Fixed the quote tag.
Care to elaborate a little more? Beyond the Seegson model audio unit thing?
Same. I'm terrible with listening to anything at home. I fall asleep no matter what I'm listening to as I get too comfortable and drop off.
I was more getting at the expense for Audible. Pressing that many CDs would be expensive, potentially making the whole thing unprofitable. Rutger Hauer can't be cheap, I imagine they invested a fair bit in this. Much more likely to turn a profit if you're just releasing it digitally because there's no physical product to make.
I have no problem whatsoever with this. I buy audio dramas all the time, some with that many discs or more.
I'm toying with the idea of photo shopping the cover into a custom made blu-ray slick cover with mp3 burned Cd so that it can slot right between my Alien and Aliens blu-rays on my shelf.
It's pretty long, you'd probably need three or four discs to fit it all on.
That said, I really am loving this. I've nearly finished it but I am just enjoying it so much.
I don't think so but I could be wrong. There's no listing on the Canadian Amazon for a physical CD of Out of the Shadows but maybe eventually one will be released. I don't care much for most things being digital downloads now, I dunno about the other collectors around here but I don't count digital stuff as being "real" in a sense because all that needs to be done to make it disappear is delete. I have to have physical copies but that's me. I still download things if it's the only way I get to listen to/read it but I rarely ever consider it part of my actual collection.
Yea I'm just not updated in tech to be able to use any Apps so they're all useless to me. I don't use any sort of Iphone type device. My phone can text & do phone calls, no internet in the slightest on it, not even touch screen. As for my computer, I'm not updated to Win10 yet either so the desktop App does me no good at the moment either. I'm just not a huge tech person so I never got into any of that stuff & still don't have much an interest in it. If I can find a physical copy of Out of the Shadows, I'll just do it that way. Luckily I did find a torrent today of the novelizations of the movies read between Peter Guinness & William Hope (the Lance version of Alien 3 was also included in the torrent) so I'm super enjoying those at the moment. Only on chapter 6 for Alien so far but it's a great listen.
I'm about halfway through and loving it. Will do a review when I've finished but it's likely to say "go buy this!"
Yea streaming wouldn't work all that well for me either. I don't even have a phone that goes on the internet so I could only use my laptop. That's why I'm hoping it at least allows you to download then I could at least stick the mp3 file on my psp & listen to it on the go for travel. Though sadly, I don't know anyone that actually uses the site & has an account that can tell me much about it. I've only been hearing about it recently their ads on other podcasts I listen to & thought I'd look into it as I did see Out of the Shadows & other Alien audio books on the site when I checked it out.
Yea Audible.com is shit. It doesn't allow you to download the file unless you also have the downloader App, plus Itunes, plus you need the Audible App in order to stream it, such bullshit wasn't worth my time & now I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to cancel my card so it doesn't start charging me at the end of the month. Only the 1st book was free then you pay for others. So it's $15 a month, plus the price of whatever book you're wanting to buy. I'll find Out of the Shadows another way.
I really need to find out how this actually works. If I have to stream it each time I listen to it, then that means using 3G as I commute, which is when I imagine many people would listen to it too. That will not work at all.
I was thinking of doing that as well & just grabbing a few books before the 30 days is up & close up but I'm still a little weary about giving my credit card info out. I don't do much online buying. Let me know if it works out for you to get it & I'll go do the same haha Hopefully it allows you to download & keep the file rather than stream. I agree, while it would be nice to have so many audio books at the ready to listen to, about $15 a little much to me.
I think I'll be getting the free trial, listening to the book and closing up shop afterwards. That's more than Netflix! The quality is good, but come on!
Yep, I finally went to Audible.com through my laptop & while yea it says 30 day free trial, after that it's 14 something a month. I think I'll be passing on that.
Monthly payments? Whaaaaat?
Yea I'm curious how that Audible place works as well I've been hearing a lot about it lately. I just don't know how into the idea I am for paying monthly for the site & paying for individual audio books as well. I'd rather just buy a physical copy audio book & screw the monthly payments to get downloads/stream.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUj03dOtqWU
A review from ScifiBulletin: https://scifibulletin.com/books/audiobooks/alien-review-out-of-the-shadows-audio/
I've just listened to the first half-hour. Off to a great start!
Check this out!
By this gent - https://twitter.com/hpositivefilm
I'm about halfway or so through the drama and loving it.
An interview with Rutger Hauer: http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/alien/40184/rutger-hauer-interview-alien-out-of-the-shadows
Plus some snaps that Dirk shared on Facebook.
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/13103284_10154134144299467_8894938389597630222_n.jpg?oh=3fedd8f8d2870578456a3145da5e3d60&oe=57BD2AA8
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13103381_10154134144544467_3820761010911184068_n.jpg?oh=275312f2b998d2552f983d6ea17056e9&oe=579D35B3
For those curious, it starts out in the style of a live radio broadcast during the events of the film, with various celebrities playing themselves. Everything gets destroyed in a fairly haunting fashion, 'War Of The Worlds'-style. Then switches to a drama.
Really looking forward to giving this drama a go, luckily I'm on holiday next week so that should be the perfect chance to give it a listen!
If you do any follow-up questions, I'd very much like to know more about that Resurrection drama he mentioned - if there's anything more he can tell us.